Question about 12900ks and RAM
Question about 12900ks and RAM
I plan to assemble a PC using a 12900K. The last build I did was with a 9900K, so I didn’t have to pick between DDR4 or DDR5. I naturally prefer DDR4, but I’m curious—does choosing DDR4 limit my options for motherboards? I’m not very familiar with DDR5 and am pretty sure unless the 12900K’s motherboard label says it supports DDR4, it might actually be DDR5. Thanks ahead of time. P.S. I won’t wait for the 13900K; I don’t own a PC yet and will upgrade again when it arrives.
Sure. I believe it's not a major problem since there are excellent DDR4 boards on the market, but it does restrict your choices. Similarly, switching to DDR5 means you're limited to specific boards that support that type of RAM. Most DDR4 boards clearly state "DDR4" in their name to prevent confusion.
Right now, more boards use DDR4, while I believe DDR5 models are less common and costlier. The same applies to RAM—most boards don’t support DDR4 compatibility, so they stick to what they’re built for. If you can afford it and plan to upgrade to the 13900K, why not go with DDR5 now? We’re unsure if a 13900K running DDR5 would outperform a DDR4 setup, but if you have the budget, it makes sense.
You have limited choices for motherboards but there are still solid DDR4 options such as the Z690 Aero G which offers plenty of expansion slots. This design may become outdated soon unless you’re familiar with RAM types and opt for a model that supports at least 7200MHz, like a chip with no integrated code. Even then, newer DDR5 modules will likely surpass these older models in performance, so there’s no rush to upgrade now. Just stick with DDR4 right now and consider DDR5 later when it becomes commonplace. Also, keep in mind the cost of DDR5 is still high, so don’t rush into it unless 7200MHz becomes standard.
Thank you for your input. For my next build, I’m considering an ASUS ROG board since the Aorus Master didn’t meet my expectations. While I’m not aiming for world records, I need a system with strong overclocking potential to boost my game performance. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks!
He intends to upgrade later to 13900k, assuming it's possible; a RAM boost in a few years wouldn't seem bothersome. We'll find out whether the 13th generation really improves with DDR5 or not. If not, sticking with DDR4 means missing out on much performance. To regain full speed, he'd need to replace the entire board and RAM.
I question whether the improvement will be significant like DDR4 versus DDR5 on the latest generation. I’ve mentioned this repeatedly, but fast RAM is just a trick. If you truly need speed, overclocking isn’t the answer—you can’t force it. Trying to buy faster RAM won’t help; it only raises costs and often leads to poor performance due to timing issues. Stick with DDR4 for reliability. You’ll still face GPU limitations, so extra RAM won’t make a real difference. Performance gains are usually under 5%, except in rare cases (like certain OC setups). Most high-end options cost a lot and require extreme cooling. Running above 5000MHz is tough and rarely practical. There’s value in focusing on stability rather than chasing marginal boosts.